Method of destroying moth life



May 19, 1936. I M. E. WADE METHOD OF DESTROYING MOTH LIFE Filed April 13, 1955 ZZZ/206742277:

Patented May 19, 1936 IPA'TENT OFFICE METHOD OF 'DESTROYI NG-. MOTH LIFE Marion E. Wade, Chicago, Ill assignor to'Moth King Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application April 13,

- 4 Claims.

' The present invention'has reference to the destruction and devitalization of moths and the eggs, larvae and pupae of moths, that is, all stages or forms of moth life, and the primary object thereof is to provide a method of-ridding garments, rugs, bedding, furs and other articles of adult moths and other stages of moth life which is more eflicacious than previously proposed methods and comprises as the main steps thereof, first, placing the articles to be treated in a comparatively small space, such for example as a closet, then rendering the closet airtight by applying strips of adhesive tape or similar sealing material around the edges -of the door for the closet, and finally afterthe sealing operation,

heating within'the closet substantially pure or unadulterated orthodichlorobenzene until a suincient amount has been vaporized to form a gas which completely fills the space within the closet and is of such potency that it destroys and devitalizes all stages or forms of moth life in the articles and closet. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of destroying or devitalizing moth life which 'may be carried out not only in a simple manner and expeditiously, but also cheaply.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present moth destroying method will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies and forms a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective of a closet having on the top shelf thereof a device which is designed for use in carrying out the improved method and consists of a. container for the orthodichlorobenzene and an electric heater for heating the container to vaporize the orthodichlorobenzene;

Figure 2 is a vertical section of'the device illus trating in detail the construction of the container and the electric heater; g

Figure 3 is a fragmentary inverted plan of the device-showing the arrangement and construction of the resistance element which forms the heating means for the heater;

Figure 4is an enlarged, vertical section of the heater of the device illustrating the manner in 1935, Serial, No. 16,111

which the resistance element is secured in place;

and r Figure 5 is a detail section showing the manner in which the cracks along the edges of the door of the closet of Figure 1 are sealed by adhesive tape in order to render the closet air-tight prior to vaporizing orthodichlorobenzene therein in carrying out the improved method,

The method which forms the subject matter; of the invention contemplates the vaporization of orthodichlorobenzene for the purpose of destroy ing and devitalizing mothsand the eggs, larva and pupae of moths, and is adapted to be carried out by way of the device shown in the drawing. This device consists of a container 6 for the orthoclichlorobenzene and an electric heater 1 for the container, and is adapted ashereinafter described and in carrying out the improved method, to be placed in a sealed compartment such as a closet C containing garments, rugs, bedding, furs and other articles which are subject to attack by moth larva.

can and comprises a cylindrical side wall8, a circular bottom 9 and a circular top Ill. The bottom 9 embodies an annular foot H at the margin thereof and this foot serves to support the container 6 when the latter is placed on a flat surface. The top in of the container has an integral, centrally located, externally threaded neck l2 which is normally closed by an internally threaded cap H3. The container is adapted to be filled with orthodichlorobenzene which when vaporized in the manner hereinafter referred to forms a moth-destroying gas.

lhe electric heater 1 is adapted to support the container 6. It serves when operated to vaporize the orthodichlorobenzene in the container and consists of a sheet metal casing M and a heating element l5. The casing I4 is supported by a plurality of legs l6 and comprises a circular top ll, a side wall l8, and a bottom 19 which together form a compartment 2|] for the heating element Hi. The upper portion of the side wall l8, as shcwnin Figures 2 and 4 of the drawing, extends downwardly and then outwardly and forms an annular seat 2| in which fits removably the bottom IS, The legs l6 are formed of fiber or like 1 bottom 9 of the container 6 and is adapted to engage and support the latter when the container 6 is placed upon the heater I for heating purposes. When the container 6 is placed or mounted on the heater the annular foot ll fits snugly around the extreme upper portion of the side wall I! of the casing I4 and holds the. container against lateral displacement with respect to the heater casing.

The heating element I5 is in the form of a strip or length of nichrome wire and is wound around a rectangular piece 23 of mica or like insulating material. This piece 23 is disposed between a mica disk 24 directly under the top H of the heater casing l4 and a rectangular mica piece 25 on a plate 29 in the upper portion of the compartment 29. The plate 25, as shown in the drawing, is suspended from the casing top I! by means of a pair of diametrically opposite rivets 21, and serves to clamp the mica disk 24 and the mica piece 25 against the heating element I 5 and to hold them in place. Current is supplied to the element l5 by'means of a cord 29 which comprises a pair of conductors 29. One end of this cord extends through a hole 39 in the central portion of the casing bottom l9 and the other end is provided with a plug 3| whereby the cord may be connected to a wall socket for current receiving purposes. The ends of the conductors 29 which extend into the compartment 20 in the casing ll lead through tubular posts 32 in theplate 26 and are connected respectively to the ends of the heating element IS.

The heating element I5 is of such capacity and is so designed and constructed with respect to the casing I that the heater I, when the container mentioned range inasmuch as the rate of vaporization of orthodichlorobenzene is a maximum within this range and the gas resulting from vaporization quickly fills the closet in which the method is carried out and is of such potency or concentration that it effectively kills all forms of moth life within the closet.

In using the device in the closet C to destroy and devitalize adult moths and the eggs, larvae and pupae of moths and thus to moth-proof garments, rugs, bedding, furs and all-other articles which are disposed in the closet and are subject to attack by moth larvae, the electric heater 1 is first placed on the top shelf in the closet C. Thereafter the cap 13 is removed from the extemally threaded neck I2 on the top III of the container 6 and the container is placed on the top of the heater casing 14 so that the bottom 9 engages the top H of the casing 14. After placing the container with orthodichlorobenzene therein on the electric heater, the cord 29 is passed through the doorway of the closet and the door for the closet is closed, as shown in Figure 1. The cord is preferably passed through the doorway of the closet so'that it extends under one corner of the door and hence is not injured when the door is closed. After the door of the closet is closed, the closet is sealed by applying around the edges of the door, strips 33 of adhesive tape or similar sealing material. These strips are preferably coated on the outer faces thereof with any suitable material to make them non-porous, and have a permanently pressure-sensitive adhesive on their inner faces in order that they may be stuck in place along the door edges as shown particularly in Figure 5 of the drawing.

If the closet door has a keyhole a small strip of adhesive tape is placed over the hole in order com- 5 pletely to seal the closet. After completely sealing the closet, the plug 31 on the free end of the cord 29 .is inserted into the wall socket nearest the closet. When the container becomesheated to a temperature between 290 and 310 Fahrenheit the orthodichlorobenzene in the container 6 vaporizes at such a rate that the gas resulting from vaporization passes out through the neck l2 in the container top I 0 and fills the closet C. The device is placed on the top shelf of the closet for the reason that the gas resulting from vaporization of the orthodichlorobenzene in the container is heavier than air and hence the closet is best filled with the gas by so locating the device.

The gas generated by the device penetrates all 20 of the articles in the closet and flows into all cracks and crevices in the closet so that all forms -or stages of moth life within the closet are enof orthodichlorobenzene is vaporized for each 30 cubic foot of space in the closet. In a container having a diameter of approximately four (4) inches the rate of vaporization of orthodichlorobenzene is about sixty-flve (65) cubic centimeters per hour provided that the container is heated 35 to a temperature between 290 and 310 Fahrenheit. If, therefore, there are one hundred and thirty cubic feet of space in the closet and a container of the aforementioned diameter is used in connection with the electric heater 1, the heater is operated for two hours. After the proper amount of orthodichlorobenzene has been generated into gas within the closet, the plug 3| is removed from the wall socket so as to shut oil the heater. The closet is then left in its sealed condition for no less than 24 hours in order to effect the desired results as far as moth-proofing is concerned. After the closet has remained sealed for at least 24 hours and preferably 48 hours, the

strips 33 of adhesive tape are removed from the edges of the closet door, and the closet together with the articles therein is in a moth-proofed condition. Inasmuch as the gas resulting from the vaporization of orthodichlorobenzene in the container 6 completely fills the space within the closet all moths or moth life in cracks or crevices in the closet or behind panels, footboards or moldings are destroyed. I

The herein described method of moth-proofing articles is extemely simple and may be carried out at a low cost because of the cheapness of orthodichlorobenzene.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

This application for Letters Patent is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 722.629, filed April 27, 1934. 70

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. That improvement in moth-proofing articles subject to attack by moth larvae which comprises 7 placing the articles in a closet or like small closed space, and then while the closet is closed vaporizing within the closet by way of heating at a temperature no higher than 310 F. at least one cubic centimeter of pure or unadulterated orthodichlorobenzene for each cubic foot of space within the closet in order to produce a'gas which completely fills the closet and is of such concentration or potency as to destroy or devitalize all stages of moth life in the articles and closet.

2. That improvement in 'moth-prooflng articles subject to attack by moth larvae which com,-

prises placing the articles in a closet or like small closed space, and then while the closet is closed vaporizing within the upper portion of the closet and at a temperature ranging between 290 and .310 Fahrenheit no less than one cubic centimeter ofpure or unadulterated vorthodichlorobenzone for each cubic foot of space within the closet in order to produce a gas which completely fills the closet and is of such concentration or potency as to destroy or devitalize all stages of moth life in the articles and closet.

3. That improvement in moth-proofing articles subject to attack by moth larvae which comprises placing the articles in a closet or like comparatively small closed space, then sealing the closet by applying strips of sealing material along the edges of the door and across all other openings leading to the closet, then vaporizing within the sealed closet and at a vaporizing temperature, at least one cubic centimeter of pure or unadulterated orthodichlorobenzene for each cubic foot of space within the closet in order to produce a gas which completely fills the closet and is of such concentration or potency. as to destroy or devitalize all stages of moth life in the articles and closet, and finally after-no less than twenty-four hours removing the sealing material and opening the door of the closet to permit of the discharge of the gas therefrom.

4. That improvement in moth-proofing articles subject to attack by moth larvae which comprises placing the articles in a closet or like small space, then sealing the closet by applying-strips of sealing material along the edges of the do'orand across all other openings leading to the closet,

then while the closet is sealed, vaporizing in the upper portion of the closet by way of heating at a temperature ranging between 290 and 310 Fahrenheit at least one cubic centimeter of pure or unadulterated orthodichlorobenzene for each I 

